Surridge Sectional League Cup

Arthurlie 5 Benburb 0

After their unbeaten run of pre-season friendlies Bens crashed back to earth with a thump at Dunterlie tonight.
It was a game of two halves: Arthurlie cruised through the first half and the second didn't matter.
The home side opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Deas rolled his shot into the corner past Quinn. Stewart added a second five minutes later as Bens toiled in the heat.
Bens were on the back foot from the start and Arthurlie picked them off with some precise through balls on an immaculate surface. The Tinto team seemed particularly vulnerable on their left side and right back Blakey provided the ultimate punishment weaving through two Bens defenders before unleashing a powerful shot from a tight angle past Quinn.
The Bens keeper got hands to the shot but failed to delay it hitting the net. No hands were required for Arthurlie's fourth as the ball was slid through to the wing, then cut inside for Johnston to curl it effortlessly into the top corner from 20 yards.
On the stroke of half-time Deas scored Arthurlie's fifth and his own second when he fired in a strong shot through a crowded box into the net.
Bens best effort of the opening half fell for McKenna but his shot was straight at the Arthurlie keeper.
Just after half time Bens lost Lovering to a second yellow card following a late tackle.
It looked as if Max Asante had secured a consolation goal for Bens after coming on as a sub. With a lightning burst of pace, he rounded two defenders from the halfway line, then the keeper but his shot was despairingly knocked for a corner by a retreating defender. If the Bens forward would have converted, he may just have snatched the Goal of the Game from Arthurlie's fourth strike.
A hard task for Bens tonight and the prospect of a similar outing on Saturday at Pollok's Newlandsfield.

BENBURB: Quinn, Gillan, Wright, McGrath, McInnes, Lovering, Davis, Carroll, McKenna, Waddell, Lavery. (Subs- Flannery, Fleming, Asante & Dewar)